Operating mechanism for twenty four hour cycle digital timer

ABSTRACT

A timer mechanism for a clock or the like arranged, in order to have the switch opening and closing operations performed accurately and reliably at preset times, so that a clutch operating member, which is held in operable condition by cooperative action of a timer setting member and clutch cam member, is released by cooperative action of a clutch controlling member rotating being synchronized with the minute shaft of the clock device and of a clutch control transmitting member.

[ 11] 3,825,702 I 1 "July 23, 1 974 United States Patent [1 1 Murata et a1.

3,686,450 200/38 R 200/38 R x 1 OPERATING MECHANISM FOR TWENTY 8/1972 3,708973 1/1973 Funaki................,.........

FOUR HOUR CYCLE DIGITAL TIMER 8 Primary Examiner-James R. Scott Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Cushman, Darby & Cushman [22] Filed:

Jan. 17, 1973.

ABSTRACT Foreign Application Priority Data 7 A timer mechanism for a clock or the like arranged, in

order to have the switch opening and closing operations performed accurately and Jan. 19,1972 I reliably at preset member, which is 200/35 R, 200/38 R, 200/38 DA,

times, so that a clutch operating v 200/39 R H 0lh 7/08 held in operable condition by cooperative action of a I p timer setting member'and clutch cam member, is re- [58] Field of Search"; R,- 38

2 3 37 R, 38 leased by coopera tive action of a clutch controlling 200/38 38 38 39 .member rotating being synchronized with the minute References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1 C shaft of the clock device and of a clutch control transmitting member.

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 3,636,699 l/l972 Marble....,.r....... 58/16 X PATEminJuLzslm shin 10f 3 FIG.

PATENTED JUL 2 3 I974 SHEEI 2 0F 3 FIG. 2'

'HOUR CYCLE DIGITAL TIMER 1; Field of the Invention I The 'present invention relatesto a timer and more particularly, to a timer mechanism for a clock-or the like where a switch is opened and closed at preset times BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION accurately and reliably. 1 j

2. Description of the Prior Art Timers for clocks where one control operation is completedby changing over the switch at a preset time I OPERATING MECZHANISM For: TWENTY FOUR and returning itto the original position after holding it in the changed-over position for a predetermined time is already known (for example, according to Japanese Patent Publication No. 38454/71). The basic construction of such type of timers is as follows, That is, the timer is provided with a manually rotatable timer setting member having at leasta pair of protuberances at the end face and time graduations on the periphery with a predetermined time'interval (for example with the interval of ten minutes) and time is set-by matching the above-mentionedtime graduation to a fixed index. The set position is held in semi-fixed condition by a suitable ratchet mechanism attached to the timer setting member. Opposing the'timer setting member, a

. switch actuatingplate is provided so that the plate moves being synchronized with the hour shaft of the clock device. The switch actuating plate has at least a pair of arcuate slots'into which the above-mentioned protuberances can be fitted respectively. The switch actuating plate is biased to approach the timer setting member and is arranged so that it controls opening and closing of the switch by its movement in the thrust direction. Therefore, when the switch actuating plate thus the electriccircuit is opened or closed or the connection in the electric circuitischanged over. When the switch actuating plate further rotates from the above condition, said protuberances contact end portions of said slots and, consequently, said protuberances are forced outof said slots by subsequent rota tion of the switch actuating plate. Therefore, the switch actuating plate is pushed up by protuberances and is spaced from the timer setting member. By this movement of the switch-actuating plate, the switch is reset.

- to the original condition and finishes its one operation.

In the conventional arrangement as described. above,

the switch actuatingplate rotates being synchronized" with the hour shaft of the clock device and the rotating amount per unit time is small. Therefore, the switchoperating timing relativeto the time set by the timer is considerably influenced by backlash of the gear train existing between the clock mechanism and switch'actuating plate and machining accuracy of component parts, especially by positions and shapes of said protuberances and slots and by machining accuracy of the positioning ratchet teeth formed on the timer setting member. Consequently, in actual operation, a time lag of about three to eight minutes occurred between the set time and time when the switch is actually opened or closed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, aprimary object of the present invention' to provide a timer mechanism for aclock or the like which is as far as possible free from influence of the error caused backlashof the gear train and machining accuracy of component parts and which opens and closes the switch accurately and properly at preset times.

Another object of the present invention is to provide.

a timer mechanism for a clock or the like having high controlling accuracy which can be arranged by adding few parts'to the known timer device for clocks.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS I F IG. 1 shows an exploded perspective view of the important part of an'embodiment of the timer mechanism according to the present invention; and

FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the important part of another embodiment of the timer mechanism according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 shows atop view of a digital clock incorporated with the timer mechanism as illustrated in FIG. 1; and a FIG. 4 shows a partial sectional view illustrating the relation between the timer setting member and clutch cam member. 1 a 1 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS In'FlG. 1, numeral 1 designates a cylindrical timer I setting member having a shaft portionZ rotatably.

mounted on an hour shaft 5 described hereinafter, and

having a pair of arcuate recesses la on its end face and time graduations 1b with 10-minute intervals on its periphery. .On the inner surface 10 of the annular flange of said timer setting member 1, ratchet teeth are v formed, though they are not shown, being corresponding to time graduations 1b, and said ratchet teeth engage with a ratchet stopper which is not shown. Therefore, when a time graduation of any desired time is matched with a fixed index 3 by manually rotating the timer setting member 1, said timer setting member 1 is held at the set position in semi-fixed condition. Numeral 4 designates a disk-shaped clutch cam member mounted, being adjacent to the timer setting member 1, on the hour shaft 5 which is rotatably mounted on a minute shaft 13 described hereinafter. This hour shaft S'is connected through a gear train to the minute shaft 13 and serves to actuate an hour indicating means h. The clutch cam rnember 4 i's'rotated together with said shaft 5 but is movable in thrust direction on said shaft 5. I

The clutch cam member 4 has, on its end face which faces to the timer setting member 1, a pair of protuberances 4a which can be fitted in the aforementioned recesses. Numeral 6 designates a clutch operating mem- 1. Said clutch controlling member 12 is fixedly mounted on the minute shaft 13 which is rotatably supported on the frame F of the clock and which is rotated at the rate of one rotation in 60 minutes by a synchronous motor M to actuate a minute indicating means m. Numeral 14 designates a clutch control transmitting member pivotably mounted by a shaft 15 on the body frame F, and having a tip portion formed as a pawl 140 being engageable with the above-mentioned notch 12a. Numeral 16 designates a spring counterclockwise biasing the clutch control transmitting member 14 as shown by the arrowhead. Numeral 17 designates a connecting piece made of resilient material with its base portion fixed to the connecting member 9 by a screw 9c and havinga tip portion formed as a hook 17a which can engage with a shoulder portion 14b of the clutch control transmitting member 14. It is preferable to form the connecting piece 17 by a plate spring.

' In the following, operation of the above-mentioned mechanism is described.

The operating time of the timer is set by matching the time graduation lb of the desired time to theindex 3 manually rotating the timer setting member 1. By this time setting operation, positions of recesses 1a are decided. Thus, protuberances 4a of the clutch cam member 4, which is rotating in the direction shown by an arrowhead together with the hour shaft 5, are faced to recesses 1a of the timer setting member 1 at positions which correspond to three to eight minutes earlier than the set time. Besides, the clutch operating member 6 becomes ready to turn clockwise around the shaft 7. At that time, however, the pawl 14a of the. clutch control transmitting member. 14 is still contacting the peripheral surface of the clutch controlling member 12 and the hook 17a of the connecting piece 17 is engaged with the shoulder portion 14b of the clutch control transmitting member 14 and, therefore, the clutch operating member 6 cannot turn clockwise. But, when the notch 12a of the clutch controlling memberl2 comes to the position to face the pawl 14a because of rotation of the minute shaft 13, the clutch control transmitting member 14 turns counterclockwise because of tension of the spring 16. As a result, the shoulder portion 14b of the clutch control transmitting member 14 is disengaged from the hook 17a of the connecting piece 17. Therefore, the clutch operating member 6 turns clock wise because of tension of the spring 8 and moves the clutch cam member 4 in thrust direction of the shaft by means of the arm 60 so that protuberances 4a fit into recesses 1a of the timer setting member 1. At the same time, the connecting member 9 is moved rightward. Consequently, opening and closing .operation of the switch is controlled by the arm 9a.

When a predetermined time (operating time of the timer) passes inthis condition, the sloped surface 4a formed on the protuberance 4a contacts the end face 1a of the recess la and is pushed up according to rotation of the clutch cam member 4. As a result, the clutch cam member 4 is gradually spaced from the timer setting member 1 according to rotation of the clutch cam member 4 itself. Thus, the clutch operating member 6 is returned to the illustrated position being moved against tension of the spring 8. Provided that the clutch control transmitting member 14 is in the illustrated position at that time, the sloped surface 17a of the hook 17a of the connecting piece 17 first contacts the shoulder portion 14b of the clutch control transmitting member 14. After that, the connecting piece 17 is bent towardthe direction shown by the arrowhead because of its own resilience, thus the hook 17a gets over the shoulder'portion 14b. Then, the hook engages with the shoulder portion 14b, thus all mechanical members return to the illustrated conditions.

As it is evident from the above explanation, the operating time of the timer is generally decided by the length of the recess 1a of the timer setting member 1 and the clutch cam member 4 finishes one rotation in l2 to 24 hours. Therefore, though the amount of rotation of the clutch cam member per unit time is small, the movement of the clutch cam member 4 in the thrust direction, re, control of the switch 10 is substantially carried out, in the present invention, by the clutch controlling member 12 which has a sufficiently large rotating amount per unit time. Consequently, opening and closing operation of the switch 10 is performed accurately and quickly at the present time.

Another embodiment shown in FIG. 2 is different from the above-mentioned embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in the following points. That is, the connecting member 9 shown in FIG. 1 is eliminated and the connecting piece 17 is directly fixed to the clutch operating member 6. Besides, the switch 10 is arranged to be opened and closed directly by the arm 6b of the clutch operating member 6. As, however, the basic construction and operation of this embodiment are same as those of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, same reference symbols are used for those parts which are same as those shown in FIG. 1 and the detailed description of this embodiment is .omitted here.

In the above-mentioned embodiments, the timer graduations are engraved with intervals of ten minutes and, therefore, the swing motion of the clutch control transmitting 14, Le, engaging and disengaging motion of the shoulder portion 14b and hook 17a of the connecting piece 17 is arranged to be carried out at every 10 minutes. But, this time interval is generally decided by considering the minimum time interval to which a timer can be set;

We claim:

1. A timer mechanism fora clock or the like comprising a body frame, a minute shaft rotatably supported by said body frame, an hour shaft rotatably mounted on said minute shaft, a timer setting member rotatably mounted on said hour shaft and having time graduations engraved on the peripheral surface and also having at least one recess formed on its side face, a clutch cam member mounted on said hour shaft and having at least one protuberance engageable with said recess of said timer setting member formed on its side face, a clutch operating member rotatably supported on said body frame and, engaged with said clutch cam member, a connecting member rotatably supported on said clutch operating member, a switch arranged adjacent to said connecting member and capable of being operated by said connecting member, a connecting piece made of resilient material connected to said connecting member, clutch control transmitting memberrotatably supported on said body frame and engageable with said connecting piece, and a clutch controlling member fixedly mounted on said minute shaft and having on the peripheral surfacea plural number of notches engageable with said clutch control transmitting member, said switch being operated by said connecting member when said protuberance of said clutch cam member engages with said recess of said timer setting member and said clutch control transmitting member engages with one of said notches of said clutch control member.

- 2. A timer mechanism for a clock or the like according to claim 1 wherein said time graduations are provided with ten-minutes intervals and said notches are provided in six in number being equally spaced.

3. A timer mechanism for a clock or the like according to claim 1 wherein said connecting piece is a plate spring.

4. A timer mechanism for a clock or the like comprising a body frame, a minute shaft rotatably supported by said body frame, an hour shaft rotatably mounted on said minute shaft, a timer setting member rotatably mounted on said hour shaft and having time gradua- 6 tions engraved on the peripheral surface and also having at least one recess formed on its side face, a clutch cam member mounted on said hour shaft and having at least one protuberance-engageable with said recess of said timer setting member formed on its side face, a clutch operating member rotatably supported on said body frame and engaged with said clutch cam member, a switch arranged adjacent to said clutch operating member and capable of being operated by said clutch operating member, a connecting piece made resilient material connected to said clutch operating member, a clutch control transmitting member rotatably supported on said body frame and engageable with said connecting piece, and a clutch controlling member fixedly mounted on said minute shaft and having on the peripheral surface a plural number of notches engageable with said clutch control transmitting member, said switch being operated by said clutch operating member when said protuberance of saidclutch cam member engages with said recess of said timer setting member and said clutch control transmitting member engages with one of said notches of said clutch control member. 

1. A timer mechanism for a clock or the like comprising a body frame, a minute shaft rotatably supported by said body frame, an hour shaft rotatably mounted on said minute shaft, a timer setting member rotatably mounted on said hour shaft and having time graduations engraved on the peripheral surface and also having at least one recess formed on its side face, a clutch cam member mounted on said hour shaft and having at least one protuberance engageable with said recess of said timer setting member formed on its side face, a clutch operating member rotatably supported on said body frame and, engaged with said clutch cam member, a connecting member rotatably supported on said clutch operating member, a switch arranged adjacent to said connecting member and capable of being operated by said connecting member, a connecting piece made of resilient material connected to said connecting member, clutch control transmitting member rotatably supported on said body frame and engageable with said connecting piece, and a clutch controlling member fixedly mounted on said minute shaft and having on the peripheral surface a plural number of notches engageable with said clutch control transmitting member, said switch being operated by said connecting member when said protuberance of said clutch cam member engages with said recess of said timer setting member and said clutch control transmitting member engages with one of said notches of said clutch control member.
 2. A timer mechanism for a clock or the like according to claim 1 wherein said time graduations are provided with ten-minutes intervals and said notches are provided in six in number being equally spaced.
 3. A timer mechanism for a clock or the like according to claim 1 wherein said connecting piece is a plate spring.
 4. A timer mechanism for a clock or the like comprising a body frame, a minute shaft rotatably supported by said body frame, an hour shaft rotatably mounted on said minute shaft, a timer setting member rotatably mounted on said hour shaft and having time graduations engraved on the peripheral surface and also having at least one recess formed on its side face, a clutch cam member mounted on said hour shaft and having at least one protuberance engageable with said recess of said timer setting member formed on its side face, a clutch operating member rotatably supported on said body frame and engaged with said clutch cam member, a switch arranged adjacent to said clutch operating member and capable of being operated by said clutch operating member, a connecting piece made resilient material connected to said clutch operating member, a clutch control transmitting member rotatably supported on said body frame and engageable with said connecting piece, and a clutch controlling member fixedly mounted on said minute shaft and having on the peripheral surface a plural number of notches engageable with said clutch control transmitting member, said switch being operated by said clutch operating member when said protuberance of said clutch cam member engages with said recess of said timer setting member and said clutch control transmitting member engages with one of said notches of said clutch control member. 